The Esoteric Design: Civilization Lost

by A. R. Crebs

  Euclid looked back through the door as he followed the others, his crooked smirk growing.

  “Euclid! How could you do this to me?!” The door shut between them. “You…are my friend.” His words fell to a low whisper.

  Euclid’s smile faltered only for a moment. He recognized a glare from Karter and Gaius III. It didn’t matter what they thought they knew. None of them could prove he had done a thing, not while the human witness believed her own memory.

  “What do we do now?” one officer asked another.

  “No clue. I’ve never arrested a Sorcēarian before,” the other replied with a shrug.

  “I don’t think we have a cell strong enough to keep him inside.”

  “We will be taking him,” Sir Gaius interrupted the conversation. “We have our own containment facility.”

  One officer whistled. “Would hate to find out what that’s like.”

  “Is it made of fire and brimstone?” another laughed.

  Sir Gaius ignored the jokes and moved toward the room holding Dovian. Azera lingered behind, eyeing the officers. “The cell doors alone hold enough power that one human touch would result in immediate evaporation.”

  The officers immediately halted their laughter. Azera followed Sir Gaius. Fardon gave the men a pleasant smile and bow. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

  “Dovian, come. We must make haste.” Sir Gaius gestured toward the dazed warrior.

  “Sir Gaius,” Dovian rasped. “I…it wasn’t me.”

  “We will discuss this in private on our own land,” the Elder responded with a strict tone.

  Dovian turned, the binding power allowing him to move. Sir Gaius led the way toward the front of the building.

  “Please release the rest of my people. They’ve done nothing wrong and are to return home at once,” Sir Gaius said aloud. The Sorcēarians were all promptly released. Before Euclid’s cuffs were removed, he cracked them in half and handed them to one of the officers with a condescending snort.

  “Can you not be respectable at least once in your lifetime?” Karter lectured.

  “Can you not be a whelp for one moment of yours?” Euclid retorted. “If you don’t mind, I have an important meeting to prepare for.” He immediately took his leave.

  Gaius III squeezed Karter’s shoulder. “Come.”

  Karter exchanged a worried glance with Dovian before teleporting as well. Fardon assisted in the travels of the Iven civilian as the other Sorcēarian left without a word. Just as Sir Gaius readied to leave, the doors of the facility opened with alarming force. A group of well-dressed humans entered the room, members of the World Council.

  “Sir Gaius, may we have a word?” one of the men spoke. He was the American representative, and somewhat the self-proclaimed head of the council. The others cowered beneath him far too often. He was a man that Sir Gaius felt unfit for his place on the board.

  “Mr. Hampden. Council.” Gaius hummed as he bowed in greeting. “Yes, perhaps in my office?”

  “Right here is perfectly fine,” the man roughly stated. He relinquished a handful of papers. “You and the Council of Elders are under investigation.”

  “Investigation?” Sir Gaius questioned with disbelief.

  “With recent human deaths, one on your land and two on ours in just twenty-four hours, the World Council has decided to personally look into these matters. Regarding your request to exhume the body of Roman Sarkov, it was brought to our attention that a great deal of ancient artifacts had gone missing during the time of the previous investigation. The council back in that time had blindly believed they were destroyed, but recent evidence along with an anonymous tip has led us to believe there is some foul play among your people.”

  Sir Gaius frowned. He attempted to read the human’s minds but found a powerful block keeping him out. It was unheard of. Never in his time had he met a blocked human mind.

  Hampden scoffed. “You look troubled. Perhaps it’s because you can’t read our minds, yes?” He tapped the side of his head. “Thanks to this new technology, we’ve allowed ourselves protection from your kind’s mindreading abilities. Now, let’s continue to level the playing field.”

  A strange device wrapped around their ears. It looked nearly identical to Sorcēarian technology. Humanity was getting smarter, adapting. Sir Gaius scowled. Azera and Fardon’s eyes swirled as they desperately tried to gather readings on the humans.

  “What are you planning to do with him?” Hampden pointed to Dovian.

  “He will be detained in our own facility.”

  “Immediately, I presume?”

  Gaius hesitated. “If it will please the Council, but our people are to remain free until proven guilty.”

  “Ah, yes, but don’t we already have the vision from the witness and confirmation of your own kind that he is, indeed, the killer?”

  Gaius’ eyes crackled with intensity, but the human remained confident.

  “Since this case once again involves a member of our race, the Council agrees that there needn’t be any further proof seeing as your own doctrine states that the vision of a Truthseer is enough to call a final judgment. Wasn’t that the case with Mr. Walten before he was brutally killed last night on your soil?” Hampden wiped a speck off his sleeve. “Horrible event. Doesn’t do well on your end.”

  Gaius hesitated. “You are correct. Dovian will immediately be held in the towers of the Confinement Compound on Ives. He will be placed under strict supervision.”

  “And how can we believe your cells are strong enough to hold him?”

  Gaius raised his chin. “Because they were built around me, to contain even the strength of my own power. I do not take the abilities of my race lightly.”

  Hampden seemed pleased by this news. “Perfect. We will contact you about our next meeting. Until then, the Council demands that all Sorcēarians promptly return to Ives.”

  “All Sorcēarians? Is that not brash?” Gaius, despite his rising anger, kept a calm façade.

  “Our people aren’t welcome on your land, so why shall we allow you on ours?”

  “That’s an exaggeration. We have human missionaries on our land and provide open courses to those of humanity who wish to study our culture. Just because we don’t open our lands to the public as you do your theme parks….”

  The human man leaned forward. “And all humans are demanded to return to their homeland until the investigation is complete.”

  Fardon spoke up, “These requests are ridiculous. You can’t really expect—”

  “Demands. These are demands.” Hampden reached into his coat pocket and handed over one more form. “Signed by every member of the World Council.”

  Gaius read over the document, dread filling his soul.

  “Failure to meet these guidelines will result in a war I’m sure you’d prefer to avoid.”

  Dovian held back his tongue. After everything, humanity’s lack of gratitude and understanding had led to his diminishing hope. Even he began to feel disdain for the impudent race.

  Gaius, with a hardened expression, gave a curt bow. “I understand and will promptly see to the removal of my people on your land and of yours on ours.”

  “Then it is agreed.” Hampden turned toward the other members. They all nodded in turn, and he grinned, gesturing toward the Sorcēarians. “You may leave.”

  Gaius, despite his usual tolerant and polite nature, immediately teleported he and the rest of his men back to Ives. In a flash, they arrived at the Elder’s office. He slammed the papers onto the desktop, his eyes shimmering with blue flames.

  “How has this happened?!” Gaius boomed. He took a moment to calm himself. “Did you gather anything from that visit?”

  Fardon and Azera both shook their heads.

  “No, sir. Couldn’t see a thing,” Azera replied.

  Fardon sighed. “Nor could I. Appears we are in the dark on this one.”

  For the first time in over two-thousand years—Dovian’s birth—Sir Gaius felt true
fear.

  “Fardon, gather the Council of Elders for an emergency meeting. Azera,” Gaius paused, “take Dovian to his cell.”

  “Sir, please. I don’t know how this could have happened, but believe me…I didn’t do it.” Dovian’s expression twisted into a look of despair.

  “I know, boy.”

  “Then, why? How can we prove my innocence?”

  Gaius shook his head. “We can’t.”

  The young man’s knees weakened. Elder Gaius was the most powerful thing in existence on the entire planet, and he couldn’t do anything to prove Dovian’s innocence. Azera grabbed the quaking man’s shoulders.

  “I will find a way. Believe me,” Gaius said.

  “Euclid,” Dovian spouted. “Question him about it.”

  “No doubt I will.” Gaius frowned as he nodded once to Azera. The large man took Dovian to the tower. The Elder struggled to pour a glass of water and eyed Fardon.

  “I will gather the Elders,” Fardon stammered, exiting.

  Standing in silence, Sir Gaius threw the glass across the room, and it shattered against the wall. After a moment, he filled another and lifted it to his lips. Sipping the water, he watched the flames of the fireplace.

  "Mugshot"

  Chapter 23

  Orin paced silently across the room. He folded and rubbed his knuckles as he tried to find the proper words to speak. Elizabeth sat on his bed, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Her makeup smeared in long black streaks down her rosy cheeks. Tiny sobs hiccupped from her as she gently tugged and swirled her golden curls; it was a nervous habit. With the announcement that all humans were supposed to return to their homelands, Orin thought it was the perfect time to break things off with Elizabeth.

  “Is, is it something I did?” she cheeped.

  Orin spun, his mouth gaping. “Ah, no. No. It’s not you, it’s me.”

  Her face crinkled as she let out a soft wail. “Ooh, that’s what they all say.”

  Rushing to her side, Orin grabbed her hands. “No, it’s not like that. Not like Johnny or Robert…or…Hank. I mean it. I’m really messed up, Elizabeth. You deserve someone better. I’m serious.”

  “What if you are someone better,” she sniffled.

  Orin’s heart sunk. Elizabeth was completely infatuated with him, even to the point of obsession. He was flattered, but enough was enough. She already looked older than he, to the point where others jokingly called her his mother. Though Orin had vain and shallow tendencies, he couldn’t bear to watch Elizabeth waste her life on him, not when he couldn’t love her one-hundred percent. How could he get her to realize this without coming off as a complete monster?

  “War,” Orin sputtered.

  “War?”

  “Uh, yes. War! I…I have another mission coming up, Elizabeth. And it’s a big one!”

  “But…which war? Things aren’t as bad as they usually are.”

  “That’s because it hasn’t started yet.” Orin lied, bobbing his head. “Top secret. Major deal,” He whispered.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She nodded in understanding. Orin had countless top secret missions. He was like a spy. The thought made her swoon. Then, she looked dreadful. “Is it really dangerous? Is…is that why we all are to go home? Is…is the battle taking place here?”

  “I can’t give you that information,” Orin sighed, kissing her knuckles. “Please, don’t fret.” He couldn’t fathom why he was lying to her. He truthfully didn’t want to hurt her, and the lies only made him feel worse. But it wasn’t entirely untrue. The call for humans and Sorcēarians to return home was a serious situation, only it wasn’t necessarily because of war. Elizabeth didn’t need to know that.

  “But what if something happens to you?” she cried.

  “That’s exactly why I can’t risk hurting you. Please. There’s no telling how long I will be gone. And…while I’m gone, I can’t communicate with you. At all.”

  “Nothing? Not even a phone call? No visitation?” she gasped.

  Orin frowned. “I’m afraid not. One misstep, and I could,” he paused, wiping his thumb across his throat as he made a sickening sound. “Not only could I lose my life, but I could jeopardize the entire mission, causing more casualties.”

  “But it isn’t fair!” Elizabeth jumped to her feet.

  “It is what it is. I signed up for this. This is my life.” He shrugged.

  Elizabeth grabbed his hands, tugging him to stand. “No! It doesn’t have to be! Come on! Run away with me!”

  Orin laughed. “I can’t run away with you, dear.”

  “We’ll find a place to hide. Anywhere.” As she wept, her accent further twanged.

  “My grandfather can see me wherever my soul is. There is no hiding from him.”

  Tears welled in her eyes once again. One large drop spilled over, carrying more of her makeup down to her chin. Orin’s stomach churned. Not only was he lying to her, but he was breaking her heart. How cowardly.

  “Listen, cupcake,” Orin gently said, wiping away her tears. “When my mission is over, I will come find you. Be it one, ten, twenty-five years.”

  “Twenty-five? Do…do you think it will be that long?” her sight fled to the floor.

  “Quite possibly more. Therefore, I believe you should move on with your life. My work is dangerous, and the last thing I want is for you to wait for me. And if I die, you’d have wasted your life waiting for me.” Now he was taking notes from Dovian’s book of screwing up love, and it worked in his favor.

  Elizabeth thought quietly for a while. Twenty-five years was a long time. She would be nearing her sixties by then, and she knew about Orin’s taste for beauty and youth. The cruel reality struck her, and she frowned. She’d be too old for him. Imagining walking through Ives at that age with Orin beside her, hearing the whispers and laughs from his friends as they called her grandma, made her feel sick.

  “We can always be friends, right?” Elizabeth meekly asked.

  Feeling some form of relief, Orin edged her chin to look into her eyes. “We’ll always be friends. You will always have a special place with me.”

  Elizabeth wrapped her arms tightly around his chest. “You’re not allowed to die! Not ever!”

  Orin chewed his lower lip, nodding slowly. “I’ll try my best.”

  ‘Coward,’ his mind repeated.

  Pulling away, she smiled. “Can I have…one last night?”

  Orin was like her guardian angel. He was mysterious, beautiful, powerful. As she looked at him, seeing his grief, she realized that perhaps she was selfish. Orin was a mystical being that didn’t belong on her planet, let alone with her. She was lucky to have even been given a chance at such a rare form of romance. And for that, she’d forever be grateful.

  Orin smiled softly. “Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Elizabeth slung her arms around his neck, kissing him. Orin hummed, immediately losing all resolve. One last night for the woman who loved him so dearly. It was cruel and sad, but if it would please her, he’d allow her that. It was the least he could do. Orin backed onto the bed, Elizabeth straddling him.

  “Give me everything you got,” she said with a taunting grin.

  And Orin was done for. He let the gorgeous woman have whatever she wanted. And though he lied, he knew that she would be better off, in the long run, finding herself a human companion.

  ***

  “Gentlemen, ladies, I thank you all for attending the meeting at this late hour.” Euclid stood at the head of the council table. “Before we start, I have a few precautionary spells to cast.”

  Seated at the round table were the head members of the World Council. Poised, it was as if they each held a secret of their own. Euclid raised his hands, casting a protective shroud over the entire building. The room groaned beneath his power. Euclid hid the grinding of his clenched teeth; it was a spell he had only perfected once. Having the attention of the human leaders gave him more confidence. Things were working out in his favor. As he lowe
red his hands, the spell solidified.

  “And what spell, may we ask, did you cast?” Hampden spoke up.

  Hampden was the loudest and proudest. He was the weakest link in the group, corrupt and full of pride. Persuading the American to join Euclid’s side took little to no spell work. He practically dived into Euclid’s offer.

  “Oh, just something that will help keep Sorcēarian eyes and ears from penetrating these walls.” Euclid smugly stated.

  “Gaius and the Elders will have no way to spy on us?” another councilman asked.

  Euclid tapped his fingers against the desk. He preferred to remain standing. “It’s a spell directly from Gaius’ own book. Being as careful as he is, his binding and protection spells are meant to hold even his own strength.”

  “He seems slightly paranoid,” Hampden chuckled. “Why create spells strong enough to hold even yourself back?”

  Euclid sighed. “Sadly, he knows much of corruption. I fear, he couldn’t even trust himself.”

  “Which is why you’ve come to us,” one councilwoman spoke.

  “Ah, yes. It seems that even the mightiest of our kind has fallen to temptation and corruption.” The Sorcēarian lowered his head, feigning sorrow. “He specifically requested I attend the last council meeting that pertained to order number two hundred and sixty-seven. I was specifically working on that case at the time.”

  “Yes, we are all aware. Can you tell us exactly why Gaius would want to exhume the body of Roman Sarkov?” Hampden asked.

  “To destroy evidence, of course.”

  The members whispered amongst themselves. Euclid hid his amusement. They each wore their ear pieces to prevent him from reading their minds. It was a technology that had long been in development. All it needed was a little push from Euclid for the scientists to understand the technology and perfect it. He didn’t need to read their minds. He already knew how humanity worked, especially crooked leaders.

  “Evidence to what?”

  Euclid sighed. “During that mission, Sir Gaius desperately needed an inside man. My job was to watch the relationship between Sarkov and Asahni. However, things were not moving along in our favor. Sarkov was killed for me to take his place.”